Linda Hammer

Linda Sue McDonough was born on June 21st, 1941 in Clarksville, Texas to Louie Thomas and Velma May Gist McDonough.

She was the middle child of three beautiful daughters. They were "Shelby Lou, Linda Sue and Betty, too". Linda attended school in Clarksville and was an exceptional student and played the clarinet in the 'Fighting Tiger' marching band.

In 1958 Linda married high school sweetheart Paul William Hammer also of Clarksville and in 1959 she gave birth to Paula Robin followed by Timothy William in 1964. She found she loved motherhood and doted on her two babies. She was a room mother and served as PTA president while the children were in elementary school. Linda attended every school function, choir concert, little league game in which her children were involved Always encouraging and proud of even the smallest accomplishment.

After Robin married and Tim graduated high school, Linda and Paul divorced. Linda then began a working career in her early 40's. She worked as a a secretary in a lawyer's office in Clarksville. Linda married Tommy Bottoms in 1984. They moved to Killeen shortly after and Linda took a job as a secretary at the flight training helicopter simulator on Ft. Hood. She loved her work there and reluctantly left for a new position as a secretary at Carl R.Darnall Army Hospital's Dept. of Psychiatry. Linda and Tommy divorced in 1993.

Linda proved to be a staunch defender of the rights and dignity of the patients there and worked every day to provide outstanding and equal treatment for all service members.

She was blessed with five grandchildren Melissa Tucker, Samantha Ferguson, Matthew Welch, Pierce Hammer and Cole Hammer. She gave them love and was always proud and quick to expound on how marvelous they were. It seemed that none of her grandchildren ever misbehaved when in her company, at least that's what she said.

She rescued and numerous dogs, some sight unseen and they became instant members of the family. She loved them all and overfed them all. Linda was a life long Democrat and never shied away from a political debate.

She loved yard work, painting, and any other home improvement task She feared nothing. Linda loved bingo, Blue Bell ice cream, her family and friends and laughter.
When her physical strength began to fail and she was diagnosed with ALS, she faced the disease with a fierce dignity. She never said 'why me' but said she had 77 good years and no regrets. Linda passed away in the care of her daughter Robin and her loving daughter in law Erin Pierce Hammer.

Linda's kindness and strength will be missed by her family and friends and those she helped through life's tribulations. The world was a better place because she was in it.

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